Effective Induction of Hairy Roots in Persian Poppy (Papaver bracteatum Lindl.) Using Sonication Method

Papaver bracteatum Lindl. Commonly known as Iranian poppy is an important medicinal plant due to the presence of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids.
To evaluate the hairy root culture as a novel method for thebaine production.
To optimize the hairy root culture of P. bracteatum, five strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (ATCC15834, C318, A13, 9453 and A4) were used by means of Sonication-Assisted Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation (SAAT).
Strain C318 proved to be more efficient than the other strains to hairy root induction ability. Among different experimental conditions, the highest transformation rate (28.5 %) was observed 4 weeks after inoculation, once the explants were subjected to sonication (45 s) following a heat treatment of 41°C for 5 min. Transgenic status of the hairy roots was confirmed by PCR using rolB specific primers.
Strain C318 proved to be more efficient than the other strains to hairy root induction ability. Among different experimental conditions, the highest transformation rate (28.5 %) was observed 4 weeks after inoculation, once the explants were subjected to sonication (45 s) following a heat treatment of 41°C for 5 min. Transgenic status of the hairy roots was confirmed by PCR using rolB specific primers.